Editorial: Helping you get prepared

There has been some conversation/phone calls about the lack of warning to Sooke residents and those living along the shore about the risk of a potential tsunami.

Sooke is in a location where the threat of damage from a tsunami is not in the extreme. The harbour and basin are relatively safe. While this may not instill a lot of confidence in some people, the fire chief, after the most recent earthquake did say, “There was NO warning issued for our area so there was no need to inform people.”

But this raises the bigger question of what can the normal resident do to be prepared for an emergency?

First of all, perhaps Sooke should have some sort of siren which would warn people to; turn on their radio (CFAX or CBC) for any news they should be aware of, or to move to higher ground if you feel some prolonged shaking. It would be impossible for emergency services to knock on every door along the shoreline to tell people to evacuate. But, you can go to this open house.

The Sooke and Juan de Fuca Emergency Programs will be hosting an Emergency Preparedness Open House in Sooke council chambers (2225 Otter Point Road) on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Information on what you and your family should do and be prepared for in the event of a disaster will be available. Displays and handouts of emergency information on such topics such as earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and winter storms will be available. Ready made family emergency kits will be on sale for those people that haven’t put their own together yet. Information on how you can be an Emergency Program Volunteer will also be provided.